Feeding of powder and like fluent materials in equal quantities



Nov. 4, 1952 A. G. ROSE ETAL 2,616,652

FEEDING OF POWDER AND LIKE FLUENT MATERIALS IN EQUAL QUANTITIES Filed May 3, 1950 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGJ Inventors A.G.Rosa. 1 IA.KAY.

y 3'. PAGE. Jinnah, .awmw y Nov. 4, 1952 A. e. ROSE ET AL 2,

FEEDING OF POWDER AND LIKE FLUENT MATERIALS IN EQUAL QUANTITIES Filed May 3, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 GQGi Inventor A.G.Rosr=. IA-KAY.

By PAGE Horney Nov. 4, 1952 A. e. ROSE ET AL 2,616,652

FEEDING OF POWDER AND LIKE FLUENT MATERIALS IN EQUAL QUANTITIES Filed May 3, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 1952 A. G. ROSE ET AL FEEDING OF POWDER AND LIKE FLUENT MATERIALS IN EQUAL QUANTITIES 4 Sheets$heet 4 Filed May 3, 1950 Patented Nov. 4, 1952 FEEDING F POWDER AND LIKE FLUENT MATERIALS IN EQUAL QUANTITIES Alfred German Rose, James Arthur Kay, and James Page, Gainsborough, England, assignors (Gainsborough) Limited,

Gainsborough, England, a British company Application May 3, 1950, Serial No. 159,782 In Great Britain May 6, 1949 to Rose Brothers This invention relates to the feeding of powder and like fluent materials such as granulated, flaky or similar materials, in sucstantially equal quantities. Such materials will be referred to hereinafter as powder.

' When feeding powder in substantially equal quantities by volume, it is sometimes found that, whilst the quantities fed remain substantially equal by volume, the Weight of the volume changes from time to time for a variety of reasons depending to some extent on the kind of powder being fed. Thus, powder of a given kind may vary in density by reason of atmospheric charges or by variation in the size of the individual particles making up the powder; or again by the degree of aeration given to the powder by turbulence during the feeding operation.

An object of the invention is to vary the volume of the quantities of powder fed in accordance with variation of weight of the volume so that the quantities fed will be substantially equal in weight.

This object is achieved according to the invention by feeding powder in successive quantities substantially equal by volume, periodically weighing a given volume of the powder (which may be one of the successive quantities fed or one drawn directly from the source of supply), and automatically varying the volume of the quantities fed in response to the weighing action in accordance with any variation in weight of the given volume so as to maintain the weight of the quantities fed at a substantially constant and predetermined amount.

In apparatus for feeding powder by volume into cartons or other containers, the powder is normally allowed to flow from a stationary hopper through a succession of moving funnels from which it flows into the containers which are arranged with their open ends over the mouths of the funnels and arranged to move with the funnels, the volume fed to each container being regulated by various means such as variation in speed of the funnels past the mouth of the hopper or by a feed regulating device in the hopper.

According to the present invention, apparatus for feeding powder into cartons or the like comprises a stationary hopper or supply line from which powder is fed into a succession of subsidiary hoppers carried by a movable member and normally closed towards their outlet ends by movable base members each subsidiary hopper being adapted to hold a charge of powder corresponding to the amount required to be delivered to a carton, said subsidiary hoppers having Claims. (Cl. 249-3) a telescopic construction so that their capacity can be varied by adjustment, means for periodically weighing a given volume of powder, and means responsive to the weighing action of the weighing means for automatically adjusting the capacity of said subsidiary hoppers in accordance with any variation in weight of the given volume so as to maintain the weight of the quantities fed at a substantially constant and predetermined amount.

The weighing means may be in the form of a beam balance of conventional design the pan of which may be formed with a. movable base for the purpose of discharging the contents after each weighing operation.

The balance may be arranged to receive weighing charges of powder from a weighing hopper similar in construction to the subsidiary hoppers mentioned above and arranged for capacity adjustment therewith, the hopper being arranged to be filled in succession from the stationary hopper, the charges being conveniently discharged into the outlet portion of the stationary hopper after each weighing operation. Alternatively, the balance may be arranged to receive periodic charges directly from the subsidiary hoppers.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, as applied to a machine for packaging powder in cartons.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of such a machine,

Figure 2 is a plan of the upper portion thereof, partly in section,

Figure 3 is a part sectional elevation taken on the line 33 in Figure 2,

Figure 4 is an elevation of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, drawn to a. larger scale, and

Figure 5 is an end elevation of shown in Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings, powder ll flows from a supply pipe 12 into a collecting chamber I3 from which it passes through apertures M in a rotatable apertured wheel l6 into subsidiary hoppers l1, l8 having movable bases I9 pivoted at 21. The bases 19 are opened at intervals, as will be described, to allow the powder to fall. into discharge chutes'22 leading to cartons 23 moved into position to receive the charges by a conveyor chain 24.

As shown more particularly in Figures 2v and 3, the chamber 13 is arranged in an annular channel 26 the walls of which extend upwardly from the apparatus the wheel I6, and in the base of which are formed the apertures I4. The chamber I3 forms with the base of the channel 26 an enclosed chamber through which the hoppers I1, I 8, pass in succession, the chamber I3 being of such dimensions that a number of apertures I4 have access to the chamber at the same time. Filling of the hoppers I'I, I8 thus taking place over the period of time required for the hopper to pass through the chamber. The forward wall of the chamber I3 acts as a scraper for the base of the channel 26, and auxiliary scrapers 25 are provided for sweeping any surplus powder into a portion of the channel clear of the apertures I6 and back to the chamber I3.

The wheel I6 is carried by a series of pillars 2'! secured to and extending upwardly from a chain wheel 28 forming one of the supports forthe conveyor chain 24. The chain wheel 28 is secured to a sleeve 29 extending upwardly from a Wormwheel 3| rotatably mounted in a gear casing32 and forming part of the main driving-gear for the machine. The wheel I6 carries the upper portions I! of the hoppers II, I8; while the lower portions I8 (into which the up-perportions- I! are telescoped) are carried by an adjusting wheel 33 formed with a series of depending bosses 34by which it is slidably mounted on the series of pillars 27. The wheel 33 is formed with a central hub 36 by which it is supported on a thrust bearing 31 carried by an adjusting sleeve 38 making threaded engagement at 39 with an adjusting, shaft 4I extending :co-axially with the chain wheel 28. H

The wheel 33 carries a series of depending brackets 42 (one for. eachhopper II, I8) each pivotally supporting. at 43a two-armed lever 44 the-arms of which carry cam. rollers 46 and 4'! arranged, respectively, to engagestationary cams 48.,and 49 mounted on the main framework of the machine. Thebases I9 of the hoppers 'I'I, I8 are provided with arms 52 each of which is pivotally connected to a spring toggle member 53 carriedpby the lever 44, It will thus be. seenthat, as the rollers 46 and 41 engage the cams 48 and 49, the bases I6 are opened or closed, as the case may be.

The chutes 22 are carried by arms 54 extending radially from a supporting. ring 56 having a series ofdepending bosses 51 bywhich. it is :secured to the pillars 21. The chain wheel 28 thus drives the wheels I6 and 33 and the ring 56 simultaneously.

The cartons 23 are guided into pockets 58 carried by the chain 24 in well knownmanner, the pockets 58 being provided with supportingbases 59 carried on arms 6| pivoted at 62 on the sprocket 23 and extending. radially therefrom. The arms 6| are raised by a stationary cam 63 as the cartons approach the filling position so-that their open ends embrace the mouths of the chutes 22,

Arranged in register with the path of movement of the chutes 22 at a positionremote from the filling position is a check-weighing "andvol ume controlling device.v which will now be described. I

.A scale pan 64 is mounted on a beam 66 pivoted at 61 on a bracket 68 secured to:the framework 5|v and spring-urged towards the light" position by a spring 69, a limiting stop 'II being provided on the bracket 68. As shown in Figure 4, the beam 66 is shown, in the neutral position, i. e., with. a charge of powderof. normal weight in the pan 64, whileinFigure 1, it is shown inthe inarm 8I carrying a roller 82 arranged to project.

into the forked extremity of an actuating lever 83 pivoted at 84 and carrying a cam roller 86 arranged to bear against the face of a rotatable cam 81 secured to a cam shaft 88. The beam 66 is embraced'by a pair of friction clamps 9| carried by friction levers 92 and 93 connected by racks'94, the lever 93 having an operating arm 96 carrying a cam roller 91 arranged to bear against the face of a rotatable cam 98 secured to the cam shaft 88. In order to allow sufficient time for accurate weighing of the charge, the cam shaft 88 is driven from the main driving gear of the machine through suitable reduction gear.

The beam 66 is provided with a depending arm I 6| the free end of which is formed as an arcuate rack I62 arranged in engagement with a similar rack I83 formed on a controlling arm I84 freely mounted for pivotal movement about a shaft I 06 rotatably mounted in bearings I01 and I08 carried by'a supporting bracket I89, the bearing I61 being formed with a spigot on which the controlling arm IIM is mounted. Freely mounted on the shaft I06 adjacent the operative tip III of the arm I04 is a spider II2 formed witha pair of bearings H3 in which arepivotally mounted a pair of switch-actuating segments II4 separated by a gap I I0 and a pair of corresponding switchcarrying arms I I5, the latter being urged by springs II6, operating against abutments II! on the spider II2, into contact with a disc II8 free- 1y mounted on the shaft I86. Further springs II 9 are arranged between the arms H5 and the segments II4 to urge the arms and segments apart, limit stops I2! being provided on the segments H4. The disc H6 is slidable on the shaft I66 by means of a two-armed lever I 22, I23, pivoted at I24, the arm I23 carrying a cam roller I26 arranged to bear against the face of a rotatable cam I2! secured to the cam shaft 88.

Mounted on the shaft I86 are a pair of springloaded friction driving members I28 arranged in engagement with the faces of the spider II2, the shaft beingdriven by chain and sprocket gearing I29 from a gearing unit I3I driven by a' reversible motor 132.. A shaft I33 driven by the gearing unit I3I is arranged to drive the adjusting shaft 4|. through worm reduction gearing I34. For the purpose of re-setting the weighing apparatusyas will be described, the spider II2 is formed with an arm I36 carrying a roller I31 arranged in the forked extremity I38 of a re-"setting arm I38, I39 pivoted at I 4|, the arm I39 carrying a cam roller BIZ-arranged to bear against a second cam surface I43 of the cam 81.;

The bases I 9 of the hoppers I1, I8 are normally opened and closed during-each revolution of the wheel I6 by the cam members 48 and 49 as described above. Since the weighin operation takes place at intervals determined by the speed of the cam shaft 88, however, it is necessary to provide an auxiliary opening mechanism, oper ating in timed relationship with the weighing mechanism. for opening the hoppers I1, I6 to re lease weighing charges at the desired intervals. For this purpose a movable cam member I44fis 5 operated, in timed relationship with the cam shaft 88, to move into the path of the rollers 41 by a rotatable cam I46 driven by chain and sprocket gearing I4'I from the cam shaft 88.

In operation, the powder II is fed from the chamber I3 into the hoppers I'I, I8 as described above, the hoppers discharging into successive cartons 23 upon opening of the bases I9 by the opening mechanism described above. The auxiliary opening gear described above is operated in timed relationship with the general operation of the machine by the cam shaft 88, so that, after a pre-determined number of cartons have been filled, the movable cam member I44 is actuated to open the base I9 of the adjacent hopper I'I, I8 to cause the hopper to discharge into the scale pan 64. Substantially simultaneously with such discharge, the friction clamps 9| are operated by the cam 98 to grip the beam 66 to hold it against the weight of the charge. The clamps are then released and the beam allowed to settle in accordance with the weight of the charge dropped into the pan 64.

The weighing mechanism is initally adjusted so as to settle intothe neutral position shown in Figure 4 when the charge delivered to the pan 64 is of normal weight, so that, when the given volume of powder delivered to the pan 64 differs from the normal weight because of variation in density, or for any other reason, the beam 65 will vary accordingly from the neutral position. When this happens, the arm IGI on the beam 66 causes the controlling arm I04 to move to one side or the other of the gap I I between the segments H4 according as the charge is heavy or light. The segments H4 are identical in construction and operation, one operating the adjusting mechanism for increasing the volume of the charge and the other for decreasing the volume. It will only be necessary, therefore, to describe the adjusting operation in relation to one of the segments, e. g., the one causing a decrease in the volume delivered.

Assuming, therefore, that the charge delivered to the pan 64 is heavy, the arm I04 will move along the right hand segment (as viewed in Figure 4), and after a period, the disc H8 is moved by the cam I21 into engagement with the adjacent switch-carrying arm II5 so as to move that arm against the action of the spring H6 towards the segment H4, the further spring H9 causing the segment to move in the same direction until it abuts against the arm I04. The arm H5 then continues to move against the action of the spring H9 until a switch I5I abuts against the segment and is operated.

The switch I5I controls the movement of the motor I32 which is thus operated in the appropriate direction to drive the shaft I33 which through the worm gearing I34 causes the adjusting shaft M to rotate. This causes the sleeve 38 to rise so as to lift the wheel 33 carrying the lower portions I8 of the hoppers I'I, I3, thus causing them to telescope into each other so as to reduce their volume. The amount of such adjustment i determined by a follow-up movement of the segments I I4 brought about by the rotation of the shaft I06 by the motor I32 through the chain gearing I29, motion being transmitted to the spider II2 carrying the segments by the friction members I28. The follow-up motion continues until the gap H0 reaches the controlling arm I04, whereupon the segment I I4 and the arm I I5 are pressed apart by the spring H9, the gap I I0 allowing the segments to embrace the arm I04, such movement disconnecting the switch I5I and thus stopping the motor I32. At or somewhat subsequent to this stage, the cam I21 operates to move the disc H8 away from the arm H5, thus allowing the spring H6 to move the arm I I5 and the segment I I4 (through the action of the stop I2I) clear of the arm I04.

After the beam 66 has settled under the weight of the charge delivered to the pan 64, and before the followup mechanism operates, the I clamping members 9I are again brought into clamping position and remain there during the operation of the follow-up mechanism. With the beam still clamped the arm 83 is operated by the cam 81 to open the flaps 12 to discharge the weighed charge into the inlet of a suction device I52 which serves to convey the powder back to the main supply line I2, the arm then closes the flaps. The clamping members are then released to allow the beam 66 to take up its unloaded position in readiness for the next weighing operation. The spider H2 is then re-set to its normal position by the arm I38 under the influence of the cam I43 and the controlling mechanism is ready for the next operation.

When a charge of normal weight is delivered to the pan 64, the segments H4, during their pivotal movement by the disc H8, pass on each side of the controlling arm HM and the switches I5I remain inactive so that no adjustment of the apparatus takes place.

The invention thus provides an automatic mechanism capable of varying the volume of the hoppers I'I, I8 in accordance with variations in the weight of the initial volume fed to the hoppers.

It will be understood that, While the check weighing mechanism has been described above as operating in association with the hoppers I1, is of the filling machine, the mechanism could be applied to a special hopper or hoppers for the purpose and having their charges delivered directly from the main supply line.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for feeding powder in successive quantities substantially equal by volume, comprising a source of supply of powder, a succession of subsidiary hoppers carried by a movable member and adapted to receive powder from said source of supply and deliver it to a discharge station, said hoppers havin a telescopic construction so that their capacity can be varied by adjustment, means for simultaneously adjusting said hoppers, a weighing device including a beam balance adapted periodically to receive a given volume of powder, a controlling arm attached to said beam and adapted upon movement from a neutral position to initiate operation of means controlling said adjusting means, and a followup device actuated by said adjusting means for stopping the adjusting operation after a period determined by the amount of movement of said controlling arm.

2. Apparatus for feeding powder into cartons or like containers, comprising a source of supply of powder, a succession of subsidiary hoppers each formed in two parts telescoped into each other, the upper parts being mounted in a first rotatable wheel adapted to carry the hoppers in succession through the source of supply while the lower parts are mounted in a second wheel rotatable with the first wheel, said second wheel being adjustable axially with respect to said first wheel so as to vary the capacity of said hoppers, means for adjusting said second wheel, a weighing. device including a beam balance adapted periodically to receive a given volume of powder, a controlling 'arm' attached to said beam and adapted upon movement from a'neutral position to initiate operation of means controlling said adj usting means, and a follow-up device actuated by said adjusting means for stoppin the adjusting operation after a period determined by the amount of movement of said controlling arm.

3. Apparatus for feedin powder in successive quantities substantially equal by volume, com- .prising a source of supply of powder, a succession of subsid-iaryhoppers carried by a movable member-and adapted toreceive powder from said source of supply and deliver it to adischarge station, said hoppers having a telescopic construction so that their capacity can be varied by adjustment, means for simultaneously adjusting said hoppers, a weighing device including a beam balance adapted periodically to receive a given volume of powder, a controlling armattached to saidbeam and adapted upon movementfrom a neutral position to initiate operation of means controlling said adjustable means, a follow-up device actuated by said adjusting means for stopping the adjusting operation after a period determined by the amount of movement of said controlling arm, and. means for clampin the beam during operations of the weighing, adjusting and follow-up mechanisms.

4. Apparatus for feeding powder-in successive quantities substantially equal by volume, comprising a source of supply of powder, a succession of subsidiary hoppers carried by a movable member and adapted to receive powder from said source of supply and deliver it to a discharge station, said hoppers having a telescopic construction so that their capacity can be varied by adjustment, means for simultaneously adjusting said hoppers, a weighing device including a beam balance adaptedv periodically to receive a given volume of powder, a controlling arm attached tosaid beam and adapted upon movement from a neutral position to initiate operation of 'means controlling said adjusting means, and a followup device actuated. by said adjusting means for stopping. the adjusting operation after a period determined by the amount of movement 1 of: said controlling arm, s-aidfollow-up device comprising a rotatable member driven by said adjusting means and carrying a pair of actuating members for said adjusting means, one orthe other of said actuating members being arranged to be engaged by said controlling armaccording as the; given volume of powder is lighter heavyso as toinitiate operation of saidadjusting means to increase or decrease the capacity of said hoppers.

5. Apparatus for feeding powder into cartons or like containers, comprising a source of supply of powder, a succession of subsidiary hoppers each formed in two parts telescoped into each other, th-e-upper parts being m-ountedin a first rotatable wheel adapted to carry thehoppers in succession through the source of supply while the lower parts are mounted in asecond wheel rotatablewith the first wheel, said second wheel being adjustable axially with respectto said first wheel so as to vary the capacity of said hoppers, means for adjusting said second wheel, means for periodically weighing a given volume of the powder, and a follow-up device including a rotatable member driven by said adjusting means and carrying a pair of actuating members for said adjusting means, one or the other of said actuating members being arranged-t0 be engaged bya controlling arm responsive to the weighingmovement and adapted to initiate operation of said adlusting means, according as the given volume of powder is light or heavy, so as to bring about an increase or decrease in the capacity of .said hoppers.

ALFRED GERMAN ROSE. JAMES ARTHUR KAY.

JAMES PAGE.

REFERENQES' CITED The following references are of record in the 

